New managers have big plans for Navarre Beach fishing pier

By DUSTY RICKETTS / Daily News

Published: Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at 07:44 PM.

NAVARRE BEACH — The new managers of the Navarre Beach fishing pier have big plans for the longest pier in Florida.

TC’s Coastal Porch, a new company formed by the owners of TC’s Front Porch and Coastal Concessions, took over the pier contract Wednesday. Initially, TC’s will have the pier open only to anglers and walkers.

However, other features are expected to start up fairly quickly.

“We are going to have to be opening up in stages,” said Scott Rayner with TC’s. “Our main goal is to be 100 percent by Mardi Gras. That’s a really big weekend for us on Navarre Beach.”

The pier’s store — which will rent fishing rods and reels and sell souvenirs, bait, tackle, soft drinks and snacks — is expected to be open the first half of this month.

By February, Rayner said they expect to have the outdoor bar rebuilt and opened. That will be followed by the restaurant, which is expected to open by Feb. 15 and feature a streamlined version of TC’s Front Porch’s menu.

Rayner said they plan to offer kayak, surfboard and boogie board rentals by spring break and add bicycle rentals by summer.

“We’re trying to make the pier a destination,” Rayner said. “Instead of people coming to the beach and seeing there’s a pier, we want them to come for the pier. (We want to create) a friendly, family-oriented environment.”

One of TC’s goals is to support local businesses. The pier will sell local coffee, hot sauce, works by local artists and even locally made sunscreen.

Rayner said anyone with a local product, or even just a suggestion about the pier, can contact TC’s at info@coastalconcessions.com.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published
without permission. Links are encouraged.

NAVARRE BEACH — The new managers of the Navarre Beach fishing pier have big plans for the longest pier in Florida.

TC’s Coastal Porch, a new company formed by the owners of TC’s Front Porch and Coastal Concessions, took over the pier contract Wednesday. Initially, TC’s will have the pier open only to anglers and walkers.

However, other features are expected to start up fairly quickly.

“We are going to have to be opening up in stages,” said Scott Rayner with TC’s. “Our main goal is to be 100 percent by Mardi Gras. That’s a really big weekend for us on Navarre Beach.”

The pier’s store — which will rent fishing rods and reels and sell souvenirs, bait, tackle, soft drinks and snacks — is expected to be open the first half of this month.

By February, Rayner said they expect to have the outdoor bar rebuilt and opened. That will be followed by the restaurant, which is expected to open by Feb. 15 and feature a streamlined version of TC’s Front Porch’s menu.

Rayner said they plan to offer kayak, surfboard and boogie board rentals by spring break and add bicycle rentals by summer.

“We’re trying to make the pier a destination,” Rayner said. “Instead of people coming to the beach and seeing there’s a pier, we want them to come for the pier. (We want to create) a friendly, family-oriented environment.”

One of TC’s goals is to support local businesses. The pier will sell local coffee, hot sauce, works by local artists and even locally made sunscreen.

Rayner said anyone with a local product, or even just a suggestion about the pier, can contact TC’s at info@coastalconcessions.com.

Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or dricketts@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.